Influenza cases up, COVID tests to gain pace again in Gurgaon

Gurgaon: With the rise in flu cases in the city, the health department on Sunday directed all government facilities to undertake screening for influenza-like illness (ILI).

People displaying symptoms of ILI and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) will be tested for COVID and influenza at the flu corners, which are dedicated wards for flu. During the exercise, doctors will test people with influenza-like illness and check if they have difficulties in breathing, comorbidities and recent exposure to patients with flu symptoms.

"We will also direct all private hospitals to set up isolation wards and flu corners for ILI, SARI and H3N2 cases. We have already set up isolation and flu corners at government set ups and the surveillance has been increased," Virender Yadav, the chief medical officer, said.

When asked if there will be a door-to-door screening for H3N2 cases in the city, he said, "Influenza is not a notified disease. We see cases of influenza every year. So far there has been no such directions from the government to carry door-to-door screening. Such actions will be taken if directed."

He also added that children younger than 5 years, people above the age of 65 years, pregnant women, and people with certain long-term health conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions) are at the high-risk group and should be taken care of.

The health department also urged people not to venture out if they have fever and symptoms of influenza that include cough, headache, sore throat, watery nose and shortness of breath. Doctors suggest patients need to wear masks.